Chip holder and dispenser

ABSTRACT

A rack having vertical chutes therein for accepting a column of rigid chips. A slot is provided at the lower end of each chute which is of a dimension such that the chip may pass through the rack. An internal compartment within the rack contains an ejecting mechanism which mates with slot in the compartment opposite the slot in the chute. A button extends outwardly from the compartment and is spring biased in an extended position. Manual depression of the button overcomes the spring bias and moves the ejector into contact with the chip so as to force it from the rack. The button has indicia thereon and is rotatable with the compartment. The indicia clearly shows with which chute the ejector mechanism is aligned.

United States Patent [191 Langieri, Jr. et a1,

CHIP HOLDER AND DISPENSER [75] Inventors: Michael Langieri, Jr., Butler, N.J.;

Michael Meyers, Munsey, NY.

[73] Assignee: Questor Corporation, Toledo, Ohio 22 Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 [211 App]. N0.: 226,678

[ 1 Jan. 1,1974

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerI-I. Grant Skaggs, Jr. Att0rney-Donald R. Bahr [57] ABSTRACT A rack having vertical chutes therein for accepting a column of rigid chips. A slot is provided at the lower end of each chute which is of a dimension such that the chip may pass through the rack. An internal compartment within the rack contains an ejecting mechanism which mates with slot in the compartment opposite the slot in the chute. A button extends outwardly from the compartment and is spring biased in an ex tended position. Manual depression of the button overcomes the spring bias and moves the ejector into contact with the chip so as to force it from the rack, The button has indicia thereon and is rotatable with the compartment. The indicia clearly shows with which chute the ejector mechanism is aligned.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMI Han sum 2 M2 FIG. no

CHIP HOLDER AND DISPENSER The present invention relates broadly to a chip holder and dispenser and more particularly a toy holder and dispenser operable by very young children.

The basic rack used for stacking and retaining such items as poker chips is well known and has been universally used. These devices are provided with vertical chutes which maintain the chips in vertical stacks. The chutes are provided with a reduced vertical opening in the rack so that the chips may be easily removed. This removal is accomplished by hand whereby the exact number of chips may be removed.

The present invention uses this basic rack, but the concept of operation is completely different in that mechanical chip dispensing means are provided. This chip dispensing means ejects the chips one at a time from the bottom of the stacked chips in the chutes.

Since the present invention is designed as an educational' toy, the various chutes in the rack have different geometrical cross sectional configurations such as squares, circles, triangles, etc. The advantages of having equipment for small children which teaches them association and recognition of various geometrical shapes is well known in the pre-school teaching profession.

The present invention also includes a simplified mechanism which allows the child to pre-select the par ticular chute from which he desires to eject a chip of a particular configuration. Obviously, when he wishes to restore the ejected chip to its proper chute, he will learn the distinctive association between various geometrical configurations. This will also add to his physical dexterity and coordinationj An object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanically operated toy which will teach dexterity, recognition and coordination to children in the very young age groups.

A further object of the invention is to provide an educational toy which is relatively inexpensive and, at the same time, rugged.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is a cross-sectional view taken through the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is an exploded view of the ejecting mechanism of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4a and 4b'are partial sectional views illustrating the operation of the, ejecting mechanism.

Broadly speaking, the present invention provides a rack having vertical chutes therein for accepting a column of rigid chips. A slot is provided at the lower end of each chute which is ofa dimension such that the chip may pass through the rack. An internal compartment within the rack contains an ejecting mechanism which mates with slot in the compartment opposite the slot in the chute. A button extends outwardly from the compartment and is spring biased in an extended position. Manual depression of the button overcomes the spring bias and moves the ejector into contact with the chip so as to force it from the rack. The button has indicia thereon and is rotatable with the compartment. The indicia clearly shows with which chute the ejector mechanism is aligned.

Turning, now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a chip rack 11 comprising a rack 13 having chip chutes 15, 17, 19 and 21 formed therein. These chutes all have different geometrical cross-sections for the reasons stated above.

A button 23 is rotatably mounted at the top of rack 13 and has an arrow indicia 25 on the top face thereof for purposes which will become evident as the description proceeds.

Each of the chutes in rack 13 terminate at their lower ends in chip ejector slots such as slots 28 and 30. The lowermost chips, such as square chip 27 are, therefore, of a dimension which will pass through the associated ejector slot when the necessary force is applied to cause such ejection.

Remaining FIGS. 2, 3, 4a and 41b illustrate the construction and operation of the ejecting mechanism.

A hollow compartment 29 is centrally located within rack 13. Chip ejector slots 32, 34 are located in the wall of compartment 29'at the. lower end thereof so as to provide communication between the compartment and the chutes.

Compartment 29 has a re-entrant section 31 which houses button 23 An interior wall 33 is located within reentrant section 31. Wall 33 has a number of slots 34 which mate with fingers 24 extending interiorly of button 23. This mating, in effect provides an integral unit comprising re-entrant section 31 and button 33.

The bottom of re-entrant section 31 is formed so as to have a borehole 35 therein. A unit having a basic hollow cylinder 37has a collar 39 extending upwardly therefrom. Collar 39 fits with borehole 35, and 41 press fits within the collar so that the flange on the collar prevents cylinder 37 from dropping out of borehole 35.

The interior of cylinder 37 includes a flat face 43 while the interior of collar 41 includes a flat face 45.

A pin 45 having a substantially arcuate or semicircular base 47 also includes a flat face 49 on the shaft of the pin.

As illustrated, when the above parts are assembled, the flat faces on cylinder 37, collar 41 and pin 45 mate so as to prevent relative rotation between these parts. The upper end of pin 45 fits within interior sleeve 22 so as to provide proper alignment of the various parts.

Cylinder 37 has an integral arm 48 which terminates in an integral circular rod 51. Opposite arm .48, there is an integral plate 53 having a hole through the terminal end thereof.

Ejector plate 71 terminates at one end in a configuration which allows that part of the plate to pass freely through ejector slot 32. The other end of ejector plate 71 terminates in an integral plate 73 having a borehole 75 therein. Rods 77 and 79 extend substantially perpendicular to plate 71 inwardly of integral plate 73. Rods 77 and 79 mate with the boreholes in the lower ends of legs 57 and 59 which together with slots 65 and 69 hold plate 71 in place when the entire mechanism is assembled.

Spring 81 is attached within the boreholes at either end of plate 53 and plate 73.'As can be seen in FIG. 4, spring 81 biases plate 71 about the pivot point created by rod 79. This action forces the terminal end of plate 71 against the floor 83 of the interior cylindrical section. At the same time, spring 81 creates a bias which rotates leg 57 in a counterclockwise manner so as to force inclined face 61 against head 47 of pin 45.

lndicia 25, such as an arrow is aligned so that it points toward the chute with which plate 71 is aligned. Thus, a manual selection of chip ejection is provided.

As may be seen from FIG. 4b, depression of key 23 moves pin 45 and associated head 47 downwardly against inclined face 61. Although the configuration at the end of the pin 45 could differ from that illustrated, the use of an arcuate or hemispherical head provides a smooth camming action so as to provide a continuous ejection actuation of the mechanism.

The camming action of head 47 against inclined surface 61 causes leg 57 to pivot clockwise about rod 51 as it overcomes the bias of spring 81. Since the terminal end of plate 71 bears against floor 83, plate 71 pivots about rod 79 until it is resting flat against floor 83. This same movement forces theterminal end of the plate through slot 32 and against chip 85 so as to eject it from the rack when the button is released, spring 81 returns the mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 4a.

The present invention provides a simple but effective device which provides manipulations designed to educate very young children in dexterity, coordination and recognition of basic geometrical shapes.

The above description and accompanying drawings are illustrative only since the components could be replaced with other equivalent elements. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A solid chip holder and dispenser comprising a rack;

a plurality of substantially vertical chutes in said rack;

a slot at the bottom exterior of said rack adjacent each of said chutes, said slots being of a dimension to allow one of said chips to pass therethrough;

a compartment centrally located within said rack;

rotable knob means mounted at the upper end of said rack and extending outwardly from said rack;

pin means secured within the interior of said knob means and extending downwardly into said compartment;

chip ejection means pivotally coupled to said knob means and rotatable therewith, said ejecting means being in contact with the terminal end of said pin means; said chip ejecting means comprising a. an inclined camming face;

b. a set of rigid parallel legs extending downwardly from said face;

c. a rod pivotally mounting said inclined camming face to said rotatable knob means; and

d. an ejector plate pivotally mounted at one end thereof between the terminal ends of said legs, the other end of said ejector plate being adapted to extend through said ejector slot;

an ejector slot at the bottom of said compartment for each of said chutes;

spring means biasing said chip ejection means against said terminal end of said pin means whereby downward pressure on said knob means pivotally moves said ejection means through said ejector slot into contact with said one of said chips, said spring means being secured between said one end of said ejector plate and said rotatable knob means. 

1. A solid chip holder and dispenser comprising a rack; a plurality of substantially vertical chutes in said rack; a slot at the bottom exterior of said rack adjacent each of said chutes, said slots being of a dimension to allow one of said chips to pass therethrough; a compartment centrally located within said rack; rotable knob means mounted at the upper end of said rack and extending outwardly from said rack; pin means secured within the interior of said knob means and extending downwardly into said compartment; chip ejection means pivotally coupled to said knob means and rotatable therewith, said ejecting means being in contact with the terminal end of said pin means; said chip ejecting means comprising a. an inclined camming face; b. a set of rigid parallel legs extending downwardly from said face; c. a rod pivotally mounting said inclined camming face to said rotatable knob means; and d. an ejector plate pivotally mounted at one end thereof between the terminal ends of said legs, the other end of said ejector plate being adapted to extend through said ejector slot; an ejector slot at the bottom of said compartment for each of said chutes; spring means biasing said chip ejection means against said terminal end of said pin means whereby downward pressure on said knob means pivotally moves said ejection means through said ejector slot into contact with said one of said chips, said spring means being secured between said one end of said ejector plate and said rotatable knob means. 